Profiling Metabolites with Antifungal Activities from Endophytic Plant-Beneficial Strains of Pseudomonas chlororaphis Isolated from Chamaecytisus albus (Hack.) Rothm.

Fungal phytopathogens represent a large and economically significant challenge to food production worldwide. Thus, the application of biocontrol agents can be an alternative. In the present study, we carried out biological, metabolomic, and genetic analyses of three endophytic isolates from nodules of <i>Chamaecytisus albus</i>, classified as <i>Pseudomonas chlororaphis</i> acting as antifungal agents. The efficiency of production of their diffusible and volatile antifungal compounds (VOCs) was verified in antagonistic assays with the use of soil-borne phytopathogens: <i>B. cinerea</i>, <i>F. oxysporum</i>, and <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>. Diffusible metabolites were identified using chromatographic and spectrometric analyses (HPTLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS/MS). The <i>phzF</i>, <i>phzO</i>, and <i>prnC</i> genes in the genomes of bacterial strains were confirmed by PCR. In turn, the plant growth promotion (PGP) properties (production of HCN, auxins, siderophores, and hydrolytic enzymes, phosphate solubilization) of pseudomonads were bioassayed. The data analysis showed that all tested strains have broad-range antifungal activity with varying degrees of antagonism. The most abundant bioactive compounds were phenazine derivatives: phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), 2-hydroxy-phenazine, and diketopiperazine derivatives as well as <i>ortho</i>-dialkyl-aromatic acids, pyrrolnitrin, siderophores, and HCN. The results indicate that the tested <i>P. chlororaphis</i> isolates exhibit characteristics of biocontrol organisms; therefore, they have potential to be used in sustainable agriculture and as commercial postharvest fungicides to be used in fruits and vegetables.